Homeopathy

Is it safe?

Adverse effects

Highly diluted remedies are unlikely to cause serious adverse effects. Less dilute remedies, that may still be described as ‘homeopathic’, are likely to have a pharmacologic effect of the main active ingredient.

Contraindications

None known

Interactions

None known

Warnings

The most serious risk of homeopathy is indirect: if homeopathic remedies replace conventional cancer treatment, this can cause adverse outcomes including premature deaths. In this context, it is important to realise that, according to one German survey,24 cancer patients seek homeopathic treatments much more frequently from providers who are not physicians than from physicians.

Citation

Document history

Last updated and revised in July 2016 by Karen Pilkington.
Updated in May 2013 by Edzard Ernst.
Updated and revised in November 2011 by Edzard Ernst.First published in June 2010, authored by Edzard Ernst.

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